Grand Californian HOTEL to be available to DVC Members too!

[Toocherie]

The latest issue of the Disney Files announced that DVC is making an exception and will allow members to book hotel rooms at the Grand Californian Hotel starting in the Spring due to the limited availability of the DVC villas in California. I just called Member Services to find out more info (points chart?) and they don't have information available yet, but indicated to keep checking the member website.

(Usually, once a DVC opens at a hotel site the hotel portion is no longer available for DVC booking---we used to be able to book hotel rooms at the Grand Calif. before the villas opened--).

I will keep checking and will update here as soon as I have more info. I think this is great news (although I also think it is an indication that DVC is not planning on building more villas in California at this time . . . . )

[Mermaid]

I was excited to see this too, but I will be interested to see what the points look like. I am guessing they will be pretty high since DLH and PPH are roughly the cost of a 1BR at GCV. But, I am glad to see the options at least! That is a good point about the likelyhood of an additional DVC in CA, which is a bummer. My husband thinks they should build a DVC resort in the Lion King parking area between PPH and DLH. That seemed like a good idea to me!

[Toocherie]

Well, it could certainly still be on the planning boards, but since Aulani and soon Grand Floridian points are for sale (as well as AKV still?) and the GCV didn't sell out as quickly as anticipated, they may be a little gun-shy about adding more points to the pipeline right now. I suspect the points requirements will be high too. I'm thinking customer service must have gotten a lot of complaints--especially from non-owners--about lack of availability. But, every time I have asked either Disneyland Hotel or PPH have been available so it is interesting that they are making this move.

ETA: and I bet at such time that there is another California DVC, the perk of booking the GCH will go away again too.

[biolabetty]

We used to always stay at the Grand Californian until we bought DVC, and even though we own here, we have never been fortunate enough to be able to get in. We've learned to love the PPH if we spend the night which we hardly do any more since the points are very high and we can stay cheaper at WDW resorts. We just save up enough to go to WDW or a cruise and do day trips at DL for the most part now.

[rph13]

I wonder what this will mean for just regular hotel bookings. Years ago at WDW we booked into Beach Club in late August and mid July Disney called us to tell us we had to move to Animal Kingdom Lodge, they had over booked the Beach Club, DH was given the explaination that it had to do with DVC. Now we have July reservations at Grand California and really do not want to be shuffled any where else. Even for a discount.